Divine Weapon Pavilion

In the blink of an eye, a full seven days had passed since the nine martial academies conducted their training exercise in the Dark Forest. New students were enrolled, causing the academies to swell in numbers.

The Emperor Star Academy was no exception, but not everyone there was feeling joy and excitement. Luo Huan had waited on the outskirts of the Dark Forest for three whole days and nights but had not seen a sign of Qin Wentian. She returned to the Emperor Star Academy and now sat in the grandstand overlooking the training grounds. She watched as the new students engaged in sparring matches, her heart heavy with a sense of unease.

Every year, after the enrollment exercise concluded, the Emperor Star Academy held a seven-day ranking competition to determine the students' rankings. This not only impacted their honor and prestige but also determined the amount of resources they could access. It was the best way to ignite their competitive spirit and motivate them to become stronger. Competition was the driving force behind their progress.

Today marked the first day of the competition, and Orfon currently stood on the stage. Among the new applicants, he was considered one of the most outstanding, easily defeating his opponents.

Luo Huan couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh as she watched. Mixed in with her amusement were sadness and a coldness that seemed to penetrate her heart.

She had genuinely liked that cheerful youth from before. Had he truly perished in the Dark Forest? Today, he should have been the one on that stage, shining the brightest.

Meanwhile, at the boundary of the Dark Forest, two youths and a cute puppy emerged.

"Ah, what a breath of fresh air," Qin Wentian exclaimed as he looked upon the city before him, breaking into laughter. The current him, with his features and aura, displayed noticeable differences from before. Even his eyes seemed to shine with a brighter gleam.

Qin Wentian had "opened up" all of his acupuncture points, enabling him to store more Astral Energy. His stellar meridians had been purified of impurities, forming a circular stellar pathway that connected his energy channels with his internal organs, creating a complete Arterial Circulation pathway throughout his body.

The path of the Body Refinement Realm was all about perfecting the physical body. Stepping into the Arterial Circulation Realm meant opening acupuncture points, connecting meridians and energy channels to form a circular pathway, resulting in heightened senses, increased speed, agility, and an overall upgrade of the flesh and body.

"The beauties of the Royal Capital, here I come," Fatty exclaimed, closing his eyes with a look of sheer enjoyment as he deeply breathed in the fresh air.

"Swosh..." Qin Wentian aimed a kick at Fatty, nearly sending him tumbling.

"You're too overbearing, Qin Wentian," Fatty complained, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at Qin Wentian. It was like the air had been let out of a balloon as soon as Qin Wentian looked at him. Reflecting on the beating he endured in Mirage City, Fatty sighed, muttering, "You're bullying this magnificent fatty too much."

With that, Fatty continued walking ahead, and Qin Wentian followed. He couldn't help but shake his head; he could never quite get used to Fatty's behavior. On their last night in Mirage City, Fatty had invited a beautiful maid into his room, using Qin Wentian's name as an excuse to discuss "life matters."

But that wasn't all. Just as Qin Wentian had finished his cultivation and was about to return to his room, the same maid looked at him pitifully and asked, "Young Master Wentian, I heard you were looking for me." It was around 3 a.m., and it resulted in Qin Wentian brutally beating Fatty. Fatty could do as he pleased, as long as he didn't implicate Qin Wentian.

Thinking about his experiences in Mirage City filled Qin Wentian with curiosity. Who was the person who knew him so well and had helped him? Instead of harming him, the mysterious figure had provided significant assistance.

As they approached the city gate, Qin Wentian noticed a familiar silhouette waiting there. It was Francis.

"Master," Francis respectfully greeted Qin Wentian, his eyes lighting up as he approached.

Seeing Francis in his tattered robes, Qin Wentian felt a warmth in his heart. He hadn't expected Francis to wait for him for so long.

"Why are you waiting here?" Qin Wentian asked.

"I've been here for seven days already," Francis replied with a tired smile. "But when I didn't see you among the returning applicants, I asked your senior sister about your whereabouts. She waited for an additional three days before leaving. I had nothing else to do, so I kept waiting here. After all, if you were returning to the city, you'd have to pass through here."

"Oh, by the way, Master, I've found us a place to stay," Francis added with an excited smile.

"Let's talk while we walk," Qin Wentian suggested.

"Sure," Francis agreed, and as they walked, he began to explain. "In the Royal Capital, among all the major powers, there's one that stands out – the Divine Weapon Pavilion. Their strength is nearly unmatched, and their primary focus is buying and selling Divine Weapons and other treasures. It's said that if you're willing to pay the price, the Divine Weapon Pavilion will have what you want. They offer a wide variety of Divine Weapons, and many renowned weaponsmiths and master forgers work there as invited guests, crafting and refining weapons."

"But they're different from the Star River Association. They don't take on missions; they're purely in the business of buying and selling treasures. Currently, I'm staying as a guest at the Divine Weapon Pavilion."

"Not bad at all. What kind of compensation does the Divine Weapon Pavilion offer you for your work?" Qin Wentian inquired further.

Francis elaborated, "There are different levels of guests at the Divine Weapon Pavilion, and the compensation corresponds with their status. For instance, a Martial cultivator guest receives a fixed monthly stipend of Yuan Stones and Yuan Meteor Stones. Higher-level guests enjoy even better treatment, surpassing that of the Star River Association."

Qin Wentian wore a thoughtful expression. Francis had made a wise choice by becoming a guest at the Divine Weapon Pavilion. He could practice his craft, enjoy various benefits, and have convenient access to resources in the future. For instance, he could procure Yuan Meteor Stones through Francis's connections for his own cultivation.

"Francis, if you had a 2nd-level divine imprint, would you be able to forge a 2nd-level divine weapon?"

"Understanding 2nd-level divine imprints is exceedingly challenging, and success on the first try is nearly impossible. One must conduct numerous experiments to grasp the basic outline of a 2nd-level divine imprint. However, if I had a 2nd-level divine imprint to study from, I'm confident I could successfully forge a 2nd-level divine weapon."

"Great, let's go to the Divine Weapon Pavilion. I'll engrave the divine imprint, and we can cooperate to forge a weapon. Afterward, see if you can exchange it for Yuan Meteor Stones for me." Qin Wentian had been attempting to open his 2nd Astral Gate but hadn't succeeded yet. He needed an abundance of Astral Energy, which Yuan Meteor Stones could provide.

"If we successfully forge a 2nd-level divine weapon, acquiring Yuan Meteor Stones won't be a problem," Francis agreed, his face beaming with joy. Divine weapons were highly sought after in the Royal Capital, especially by adventurers who relied on them for survival in dangerous situations.

"Why didn't we see anyone using divine weapons in the Dark Forest?" Qin Wentian asked Fan Le, who had been listening in.

Fan Le sighed inwardly at Qin Wentian's uncanny abilities. Comprehending divine imprints was a rare feat, as they were highly mysterious and required substantial time and effort to study. Most cultivators didn't have the patience for it.

"Examinees aren't allowed to bring divine weapons during the tests. Do you think the examiners are fools?" Fatty retorted.

"You have a point," Qin Wentian admitted with a smile. As they walked through the streets, he noticed that nearly everyone had a divine weapon with them.

The Divine Weapon Pavilion stood in the 4th sector of the Royal Capital, alongside major clans and the Star River Association. It was a grand and spacious building, frequented by people of power and authority.

Francis pointed toward the imposing structure. "That's the Divine Weapon Pavilion."

"No need to go inside," Qin Wentian replied. "Just take me to the place where you forge weapons." He was eager to open his 2nd Astral Gate and condense his 2nd Astral Soul before returning to the Emperor Star Academy to deal with those like Orfon who had given him a hard time in the Dark Forest.

He was determined to enter the academy, turning the tables on those who had sought his demise.

Certainly, he needed to prioritize condensing his 2nd Astral Soul and enhancing his combat capabilities. The Emperor Star Academy was known for its abundance of prodigious talents.

Francis guided Qin Wentian through the Divine Weapon Pavilion, leading him toward the inner courtyard. The Divine Weapon Pavilion's prosperity hinged on the operations within this very courtyard. Similar to the Star River Association, Francis, as a guest of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, had his own weapon-forging hall with two apprentices to assist him. The hall was stocked with various materials and embryo casts. The smelting furnace's temperature could be adjusted at will, and the working environment was on par with that of the Star River Association.

"Master, what type of divine weapon do you wish to forge?" Francis inquired as they approached the area where embryo casts were stored.

"You decide; your expertise lies in selection. I'll prepare myself to grasp the insights of 2nd-level divine imprints. The specific type of divine weapon doesn't matter to me. As long as the forging process is flawless, we should be able to create a complete 2nd-level divine weapon once I inscribe the divine imprints," Qin Wentian replied.

"If that's the case, how about forging a bow?" Fan Le couldn't resist chiming in.

Qin Wentian rolled his eyes at Fan Le's suggestion. Among all divine weapons, divine bows were some of the most challenging to craft. The curvature, length, and intricate runic lines required for divine bows made them exceptionally difficult to inscribe.

In the end, Francis chose an embryonic cast for a sword and began the process of forging a divine sword. He carefully selected the materials and fed them into the forge fire. Qin Wentian sat nearby, focusing on comprehending the complex 2nd-level divine imprints stored in his memories. He meticulously analyzed every trace of runic lines, practicing drawing them with the Astral Energy within his Stellar Meridians.